Minister suggests people should get ‘better paid jobs’ to handle rising costs 

Minister suggests people should get ‘better paid jobs’ to handle rising costs 

Home Office minister Rachel Maclean has suggested people should get a “better paid job” to cope with the rising cost of living.

Quizzed by Sky News this morning, she explained: “I think what we need to focus on now is over the long term, we have got these short term pressures that we are all aware of and that your families in Wigan are seeing, but over the long term we need to have a plan to grow the economy and make sure that people are able to protect themselves better, whether that is by taking on more hours or moving to a better paid job. 

“These are long term actions but that is what we are focused on as a government.”

When it was put to her that many people are already working “every hour that God sends them” but remain reliant on food banks, Maclean clarified: “I am not suggesting that for one moment, but we have often heard in the past when people are facing problems with their budgets that one of the obstacles, and it may not be for everybody, is about being able to take on more hours or even move to a better paid job. 

“But of course it is an individual situation depending on that particular family’s situation but that is why the Job Centres exist, that’s why the work coaches exist, that’s why we put the support into those job centres to work with individuals their own individual situation.” 

Labour have suggested the government are “out of touch” on cost of living issues.

Shadow economic secretary to the Treasury Tulip Siddiq said: “This Tory government could not be more out of touch or out of ideas. As energy bills rise by record amounts for millions of families, comments like this are ridiculous – as is the prime minister’s refusal to back a windfall tax on oil and gas producer profits that could tackle the cost of living crisis.

“Tomorrow, Labour will give this Conservative government another chance to support our windfall tax. Britain needs a government that is on working people’s side. Only Labour can tackle the cost of living crisis and deliver the stronger economy we need.”